THE GRAPE VINE, 115 



INSECTS TO WHICH VINES AEE SUBJECT. 



Red-Spider (fig. 11). — ^Until the advent of the Phyl- 

 loxera, this was the most formidable insect to which vines 

 are generally subject. It is far more troublesome on some 

 soils and in some seasons than others, being worst on 

 hot gravelly soils and in dry localities, and least pre- 

 valent on moist soils. It thrives best in a hot dry atmo- 

 sphere, and is far more common where hard firing has to 

 be practised early in the season. On vines that start 

 naturally in April and May, and that do not require 

 much fire-heat to ripen the crop, it is generally not much 

 to be feared. Whenever it makes its appearance on 

 the foliage, the best way is to attack it immediately — 

 before it spreads — with a sponge. Put as much Fowler's 

 Insecticide into warm soft water as will colour it, 

 and with this sponge every leaf on which it first 

 makes its appearance. It generally appears at some 

 particular spot near the heating apparatus ; and 

 though sponging it off may seem a slow process, yet an 

 active hand can soon go over a great number of leaves ; 

 and, in the long-run, I have always found this to 

 be the least laborious method. After the sponging, 

 if clean water is easily got, give the vines a vigorous 

 syringing for a few days in succession. Keep a look-out 

 for the insect constantly after the first attack, and deal 

 with it in the same way. There is no doubt that con- 

 stantly syringing the vines is th6 best preventive, and 

 syringing is much to be preferred to the destruction of 

 the foliage by spider. In some waters, however, there 

 are deposits which discolour the grapes, and it is very 

 undesirable to use water of that description unless the 

 sediment can be filtered out of it. Sulphur, hot lime,. 



